Cinema

Gadfly 254 By Robert Macklin It’s vanishingly rare in a columnist’s life that a vision of the future suddenly arrives that seems so absolutely inevitable that you race for the computer to get it down before its outlines have the chance to fray. It happened in the early hours of this morning, so here it is in a nutshell: The campaign for the referendum on The Voice gathers momentum and passes resoundingly six months before the re-election of the current government. Inspired, we embark on the next step to declare a republic in which the office of Governor-General and/or Head of State is replaced by an ‘Elder’ of Aboriginal heritage with no executive or electoral powers but as Australia’s ceremonial representative. She or he would be chosen by the National Cabinet of PM and Premiers and reside for a set term at a purpose-built residence on the land currently set aside for the new prime ministerial Lodge overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. All very nice, I hear you cry, but totally idealistic and impractical. Well, maybe. Let’s see the barriers we need to overcome to reach it. The closer you get to them, I discovered, the more fragile they become. The Voice already has the backing of the Government and most of the crossbench. The truth-telling has begun with Aboriginal filmmakers and supportive authors and artists from all shades of the community. Rachel Perkins’ The Australian Wars might have begun with SBS, but its effect is a starting gun that will be followed by other programs, books and artistic endeavour with powerful appeal across the social spectrum. Once The Voice is established under the guiding hand of a much underestimated Anthony Albanese, it will seem a very natural addendum to our system of governance. Support for the Republic will rise accordingly, boosted by the inevitable public downgrading of the monarchy in the international backlash against colonialism and the antics of the Charles and Camilla regime. By voting time, the Dutton-Taylor Opposition and the Anglo-Australian reactionaries will be reduced to a slim, if noisy, minority. But what of the form this republic might take? Surely that’s the stumbling point to split the republicans down the middle once again. Well, this is where practicality and the scientific method of peer review take centre stage. Let’s forget the silly nonsense of the ARM which has been run into the ground by its current leadership. Its latest model of multiple State voting arrangements signed its own death warrant. More importantly, it turns out that we have already tested an exact template in miniature, right in the heart of the nation. And it’s operated without a hitch for no less than 34 years. The ACT Government simply eliminated the Head of State notion as some kind of constitutional or electoral referee. The ACT Parliament meets after an election on the third Saturday of October every four years. In its wake the Parliament elects a Speaker and a Chief Minister who appoints her/his Ministers. She/he signs the Bills passed into law. If the Chief Minister resigns or loses a majority vote, the next order of business chooses a replacement. All authority rests with the elected representatives. Should some extreme constitutional issue arise, it would be resolved by the High Court. Finally, that would allow the National Cabinet – for whose prominence, in glorious irony, we must thank one Scott Morrison - to choose a figurehead to salve the wounds of national tragedy and lead the rejoicing of Australian achievement. And who better than a member of the First Nations to whom we owe an unrepayable debt. Now tell me that’s not a vision splendid.

‘Know all Ron’ held court and cleared his throat.

“There was the big rain back in 1860. You know….. Araluen was pre y much washed away with flash flooding. In fact, a number of people lost their lives.”

A long pause and a few murmurs of concurrence. ‘Timeless Tom’ weighed in. “Yeah….. but this is such a long rain, Ron. It’s been going on for a long while now……. not just down here but all over the place. We are talking long term damage from the rain and not just to roads, bridges and similar infrastructure. It’s had a huge impact on how and where we live. I reckon we need to make some pre y significant decisions.” Yuin Na on Elder, Noel, let out a long sigh. “Tom is right…….. I reckon a er a rain like this one, we need to talk about the displacement of people on a grand scale, star ng with the North Coast. We can’t ignore the impact of this con nual rain. This long rain has caused some major damage to some of our Sacred Sites down here. It’s a good thing they are resilient.” Noel shi ed to allow Mick to join the group. “We are just talking about this long rain, Mick.” Mick took in the sullen faces and touched his black armband.

“Yeah…..seventy years of Queen Elizabeth II was a long reign. I feel your pain. Even Bazza, seems somewhat upset. Now cheer up, another reign begins with King Charles III.” Incessant rain on the n roof s fled further conversa on.

Have a beer with Bazza at john.longhurst59@gmail.com

Come to Batemans Bay (Tuesday 4 October, 5.30pm) or Narooma (Wednesday 5 October, 5.30pm) libraries to hear local author Sandi Logan discuss his book 'Betrayed: the incredible untold story of the two most unlikely drug-running grannies in Australian history'. Join for nibbles, a glass of wine and a chat with journalist Sandi about this fascina ng story Books will be available for purchase from Candelo Books Free event, bookings essen al. More info and bookings: h ps://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/ community/libraries/whats-on

THE Minister for Lands has announced the Government’s inten on to grant £200,000 for rabbit-proof fencing. The following tennis players will represent Moruya against Bateman’s Bay to-day on the local courts: - Mesdames Ison, Simpson, Armstrong, and Sanders, Messrs. Carter, Knight, Feneley, Armstrong and Sanders. Play to commence at 1.30 p.m. MR. T Cooper is having his Campbell Street property improved by the erec on of a new paling fence, Mr. F. Ryan being the contractor. If other landowners would go and do likewise, the appearance of some of the town’s back yards would be greatly enhanced. MR. James Greig, of Bergalia, has purchased a new Buick car through the local agent, Mr. Weatherby. The new locomo ve apparatus arrived under the care of the agent last Friday. The color is French grey, and is of the famous four cylinder type. Mr. Greig took over on Monday last, and under the tui on of the sub-agent, Mr. Nelson, is progressing favourably towards the manipula on of same. This is the third Buick for Bergalia in the last six months, and brings the total number of cars up to five for the place. Now, Henry, what about the purchase of a “Lizz.” OWING to heavy rain falling on Saturday a ernoon and evening the dance at Bodalla in aid of the Moruya hospital was not very well a ended, however those present had a very enjoyable me. A novelty waltz was won by Mr. G. Cra and Miss Alice Lipscombe. Mr. E. Anlezark was M.C. and Mr. Desclen was in his usual place at the piano. NAROOMA. (From our Correspondent.) The wood-chop … was held on the 23rd instant, under the auspices of the Soldiers War Memorial Hall Commi ee. The £5 prize and the logs were generously donated by Mr. J. P. Hyland, of the Narooma Hotel. There was a fairly large a endance, and during the chopping contest there was keen excitement, which made a very enjoyable a ernoon. A collec on was taken up on the ground by the commi ee resul ng in the sum of £3 being added to the Memorial Hall Fund. Following is the result of the chop: - Final. C. Backhouse, 13 secs – 1; T. Hawke, 26 – 2; R. McMillan, scratch – 3. Barling Bros. were unfortunate in having their axes damaged during the chop. A lively squad of the Narooma Progress Associa on was very busy on Wednesday plan ng ornamental trees along the southern side of Campbell Street sec on of the Prince’s Highway, which, if all goes well, will further add to the beauty of Narooma in the future. The trees were received from the Botanical Gardens, Sydney. Extracted from the Moruya Examiner by the Moruya and District Historical Society Inc. h ps:// www.mdhs.org.au

The Beagle Editor, The image shows the Crown land reserve off Turnbull's Lane currently for sale for the equivalent of $4000 per house block size (40x20m) to one neighbour, the Lot 6 owner with Council’s full encouragement, while the eastern neighbours would need to pay 40 mes that amount and are given no considera on from Council for the pricing discrepancy. At the 13 September, council mee ng two very reasonable mo ons were raised by Cllr Worthington — that Council withdraw support for sale of the land and that Council consider use of the reserve as part of a recrea on route for future residents. Instead, the mee ng was subjected to a string of fatuous comments presented in the General Manager’s report that had not a shred of evidence to support any of its nega ve claims. Having only Clr Mayne in support, the mo ons were lost. The reserve is a 20 -25m wide paper road and although Council claims it is a narrow corridor subject to crime and an social behaviour it has calmly existed as a reserve for many years and has been well managed by its eastern neighbours. It has 4 important trees that council had noted as ‘to be retained’ but no house block will keep them.

The Reserve has the poten al to meet one of the high priori es — E 13 of Council’s Recrea on Open Space Strategy for trails and track-based ac vi es as well as addressing the community desire for open space networks close to their home spaces. The reserve has poten al to become a re recrea on trail linking Turnbulls Lane to Dwyers Creek road. Although there will be 97 housing blocks in Lot 6 and some are large enough for double density, Council is using the opaque argument that the reserve is needed for housing!! Council’s inten ons area clear — no management responsibili es, no community recrea on space, no consulta on with exis ng neighbouring land managers, fill up the area with around six ba le-axe blocks, and get rid of the significant trees. The idea that reserve becomes a linear network trail recrea on space, a green buffer, a site for enhancing an environmental corridor, and with a con nuing community management is not in the Council’s mindset. The Bathla Group has now started construc on in Lot 6, but the decision for the Reserve rests with Crown Lands and Council has been nego a ng with Crown Lands, no doubt to ensure it gets support for its dismal inten ons. While Council encourages the purchase of the reserve by the Lot 6 owner, it has had absolutely no liaison or discussion with the eastern neighbours who s ll manage the land and who will clearly suffer a loss of amenity from Council’s cavalier approach to local planning. Once this green space, a remnant of the Lagoon Road route goes, it is lost forever. 29 September 2022 Juliet Ramsay, friend of the reserve